Multiple dispersion generator e-vaping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453379-B2
Application number	US-202318354100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2023
Priority date	Mar 11, 2016
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

A base for an e-vaping device is configured to couple with multiple cartridges configured to generate separate, respective dispersions. The cartridges may include one or more atomizer assemblies or vaporizer assemblies. The base may include multiple connectors electrically coupled to the power supply. The connectors may be configured to couple multiple dispersion generators to a power supply of the base. The base may include control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by dispersion generators coupled to the base. The control circuitry may independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on cartridge information accessed through at least one of the first and second connectors. The control circuitry may control dispersion generation by controlling power supplied to the dispersion generators.

First claim

We claim:

1. A base, comprising:
a power supply configured to supply electrical power;
first and second connectors configured to independently and removably electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply, the first and second connectors configured to independently and removably connect, the respective first and second cartridges to the base; and
control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connectors, the cartridge information including a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

2. The base of claim 1 , wherein
the control circuitry is configured to
establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector; and
access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link through the first connector, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

3. The base of claim 1 , wherein
the cartridge information includes,
information uniquely identifying one or more elements of the dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,
information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,
information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge, or
any combination thereof.

4. The base of claim 1 , wherein
the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector.

5. The base of claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

6. The base of claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.

7. The base of claim 1 , wherein
the first connector is configured to couple with a connector of the first cartridge and is configured to be restricted from coupling with a connector of the second cartridge, and
the second connector is configured to couple with the connector of the second cartridge and is configured to be restricted from coupling with the connector of the first cartridge.

8. An e-vaping device, comprising:
a base;
a power supply within the base configured to supply electrical power;
first and second cartridges independently and removably electrically coupled to the power supply, the first and second cartridges independently and removably connected to the base; and
control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on accessing cartridge information from the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first and second cartridges, the cartridge information including a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

9. The e-vaping device of claim 8 , wherein
the control circuitry is configured to
establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge; and
access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

10. The e-vaping device of claim 8 , wherein
the cartridge information includes
information uniquely identifying one or more elements of the dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,
information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,
information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge, or
any combination thereof.

11. The e-vaping device of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via a first connector and to the second cartridge via a second connector.

12. The e-vaping device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

13. The e-vaping device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.

14. The e-vaping device of claim 8 , wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

15. The base of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cartridge holder defining a first slot and a second slot;
the first connector in the first slot;
the second connector in the second slot;
the first cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the first slot; and
the second cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the first slot.

16. A base, comprising:
a power supply configured to supply electrical power;
first and second connectors configured to independently and removably electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply, the first and second connectors configured to independently and removably connect, the respective first and second cartridges to the base;
a cover configured to establish a removable enclosure of the first and second connectors; and
control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connectors, the cartridge information including a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Rostami Ali A
• Kobal Gerd
• Pithawalla Yezdi
• Kane David
• Tucker Christopher S
• Lipowicz Peter
• Flora Jason
• Karles Georgios
• Mishra Munmaya K
• Barnes Catherine
• Arena Richard

Classifications

• H02J7/875

  Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation · CPC title

• H04L65/1069

  Session establishment or de-establishment · CPC title

• A24F40/40

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• A24F40/30

  Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges · CPC title

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title